Feather-renovator



3 Sheets-Sheet '1.

Patented Dec. 4, 1883.

N. PETERS, PholoLnhogmpMr, Wnhinglm. n c.

A. G. BIERBAGH.

FEATHER RENOVATOR.

(No Model.)

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A; G. BIERBAGH. FEATHER RENOVATOR.

' No. 289,378, Patented Dec. 4, 1883.

N, PETERS. PMQLillmgnpner. Wiihilnblk II C U vrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT G. BIERBACH, OF MILWVAUKEE, VISCONSINF FEVATHER-RENOVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,378, dated December 4,. 1883. Application filed March 3, 1883. (No model.)

f9 0021? whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT G. Binnniiorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feather-Renovators; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine for renovating and separating feathers, and pertains both to the construction of the machine and to the process employed in renovating the feathers. I

My invention is further explained by referen cc to the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel represents aperspective view. Fig. 2 represents ahorizontal section of the device, drawn on line with the rotating shaft; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross -section drawn at right angles to that shown in Fig; 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the separator. Fig. 5 is a sliding screen. Fig. 6 is an end of the renovatori Fig. 7 is a detail showing steampipes 011 the agitator. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the separating device. I

Like parts are represented by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

A is a cylindrical drum in which the feathers are treated. The same is supported at its respective ends on shafts B and O. A steampassage is provided in shaft B, communicating from a steam-boiler to the interior of the drum, through which steam is conductedto the feathers within the drum. The shaft 0 is connected at one end with an agitator, consisting in shaft D, armsE, and fans F, while the other end is provided with a crank or pulley, E, by which the agitator is rotatec. are introduced through the opening F, which is provided with a closely-fitted cover, G. H H are standards by which the drum is supported and rigidly retained in a stationary position,

as shown in Fig. 1, while revolving the agitator,

agitator is rapidly revolved.

The feathers which standards, however, permit said drum to be inverted when it is desired to discharge the feathers therefrom through the mouth F without the aid of the separating device, herepost H, and slide J is attached to said drum.

Thus it is obvious that by raising the slide from the recesses a in the ratchet said drum may be turned upon its axis and adjusted at any point desired corresponding with the recesses a in the ratchet. Communicating with the same duct in shaft 13 are a number of branch pipes. K, L, M, O, O, B, and V, through which pipe the steam is subdivided and uniformly distributed among the feathers, whereby they are steamed and dried. The cylinder being first filled about half full of feathers, steam is conducted into the cylinder in direct contact with the feathers through pipes B and N. Pipe 13 extends through the shaft D and communicates with the perforated branch pipesb b c c, which latter pipes are attached to the arms and fans and revolve with them, the projecting end of shaft B being closely fitted into the pipe B by a steanrtight joint, which permits said pipe B and its branches to revolve with the agitator, by which arrangement it is obvious that the steam is uniformly distributed in all parts of the drum, whereby all the feathers are uniformly acted upon. The pipe N conducts steam at the same time in direct contact withthe feathers through the perforated gutter G. As the steam is thus introduced in direct contact with the feathers, the The cover G being opened the impure gases are permitted to escape. After steam has been thus admitted in direct contact with the feathers for about five minutes, the steam-valves leading to said pipesB and N are closed, when the valve T, leading to the chemical box U, is

opened The box U contains a composition consisting of chloride of lime and soda, in

about equal parts. The valve T being opened,

steam rushes rapidly through the branch pipes L L into said compound and rapidly decomposes the same, when avapor is thereby pro- 2 esmsvs duced from the compound, which is carried with the steam through the branch p'ipes V V, whereby the feathers are cleansed and purified. If desired, however, the chemical vapor from the box U may be simultaneously introduced in the first instance with the steam through pipes B and N; but the order mentioned is preferred. The feathers being thus steamed and purified, all the steam-pipes leading steam in direct contact with the feathers are closed, when steam is admitted into the drying-pipes O 0, whereby a dry heat is produced in the chamber WV, by which the feathers are rapidly dried,whi1e, by the rapid movement of the agitator, currents of the heated air are thrown among the feathers, whereby they are thoroughly dried and expanded into their full size and natural shape.

The chamber 7 may be provided with a large number of hermetically-sealed pipes, O, communicating with pipes O, which are iiiclosed in the chamber \V; or, if desired, the chamber W may be made steam-tight and heated by introducing steam directly into it.

\Vhen the feathers are thus cleansed and dried, they are, bleached and whitened by vapor of sulphur, chlorine, or other equivalent bleaching substance, which is generated in a closed receptacle. The closed receptacle thus employed is connected with the steam-pipe B. The vapor being thus generated is driven by steam from the receptacle in among the feathers, whereby they are bleached. \Vhen the feathers are thus cleansed and whitened, the cover G is removed and the separator (shown in Figs. 4, 9, and 10) is placed over the mouth F of the cylinder, when the feathers are drawn upward by an exhaust out of the cylinder or drum A into the separator, as indicated by the arrows. The separator consists of chamber A, one or more ordinary fan-blowers, B B B, and chute C1. The-fans B are connected with a motor by belts D. Simultaneously with the operation of the fan-blowers the agitator in the drum is revolved, whereby the feathers are thrown upward, when they are drawn by the exhaust or upward air-current from the drum into the fan-blower, and ejected therefrom into the chute C. The chute G is provided with several openings, D and E, formed through its lower side at short intervals apart, by which the coarse and heavy feathers are separated from the light and finer quality. The'first opening, D, being located nearest the fan,none but the coarsest feathers, quills, and refuse substances of greatest weight escape therefrom, the lighter and better feathers being rapidly blown over said first opening, while the gravity of the former causes them to fall through the first opening; so the next heavier feathers fall through the opening E, and the lighter feathers are driven on to the next escape. Thus any desired number of escapes may be formed, according to the number of separat ons desired. Each opening D E may be provided with separate ducts communicating with separate bins, into which the feathers thus separated and assorted are led. If not desirous to thus assort the feathers, they may be d1scharged, as mentioned, through the mouth by inverting the drum and revolving the agitator, when they will all be rapidly e ected together.

F is a screen-slide, by which the openings in the drum or ducts may be so closed as to stop the escape of feathers without stopping the air.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a feather-renovator, the combination, with a single inlet-pipe leading from a steamgenerator, of the three several sets of pipes, L L and V V, leading to and from the chemicalreceptacle pipe M, leading to the hermeticallysealed drying pipes or chamber, and pipe B, leading directly into the feather-renovator, said several sets of pipes being respectively provided with separate valves, by which steam is governed in its course to the said several apartments, either separately or simultaneously, as desired, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of cylinder A, chamber A, fan-blowers B B B, chutes O G O, and driving-belts D, said chutes 0 being provided with two or more escapes, D and E, as set forth.

3. The method of renovating and bleaching feathers by the application, first, of steam, and. second, of vapors of chloride of lime, soda, and chlorine as generated and injected among the feathers by a current of steam from a separate steam-generator, in the order and proportions substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the chemical-conducting pipesV V, of horizontal passages R R and semicircular passages S S S, as adapted to conduct the chemical vapor from the chemicalbox and distribute the same among the feathers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Intestimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT G. BIERBAOH.

Vitnesses W. SINNo'r'r, J as. B. ERWIN. 

